NC Register Volume 16 Issue 15 - Office of Administrative Hearings

of movement. The issuance of the permit does not imply norguarantee the clearance for the permitted load and all verticalclearances shall be checked by the permittee prior to movementunderneath.(g) The move is to be made between sunrise and sunset Mondaythrough Saturday with no move to be made on Sunday.Exception: A 16' wide mobile/modular home unit with amaximum three inch gutter edge is restricted to travel from9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.Additional time restrictions may be set by the issuing office if itis in the best interest for safety or to expedite flow of traffic. Nomovement is permitted for a vehicle/vehicle combination afternoon on the weekday preceding the six holidays of New YearsDay, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day and no movement ispermitted until noon on the weekday following a holiday. If theobserved holiday falls on the weekend, travel is restrictedfrom 12:00 noon on the preceding Friday through 12:00noon on the following Monday. Continuous travel (24 hr/7day/365 days a year) is authorized for any vehicle/vehiclecombination up to but not to exceed a permitted gross weight of112,000 lbs. provided the permitted vehicle has no other overlegal dimension of width, height or length included in thepermitted move. Exception: self-propelled equipment may beauthorized for continuous travel with overhang (front or rear orboth) not to exceed a total of 10 feet provided overhang ismarked with high intensity glass bead retro-reflectivesheeting tape measuring 2" by 12" to be displayed on bothsides and the end of the extension and on each side of theself-propelled vehicle 24" from the road surface at nearestfeasible center point between the steer and drive axles. Anyrear overhang must display a temporarily mounted brakelight and a flashing amber light, 8" in diameter with aminimum candlepower of 800 watts. Permitted vehiclesowned or leased by the same company or permitted vehiclesoriginating at the same location shall travel at a distance ofnot less than two miles apart. Convoy travel is notauthorized except as directed by authorized law enforcementescort.(h) The speed of permitted moves shall be that which isreasonable and prudent for the load, considering weight andbulk, under conditions existing at the time; however, themaximum speed shall not exceed the posted speed limit. Atowing unit and mobile/modular home combination shall notexceed a maximum speed of 60 miles per hour. The driver ofthe permitted vehicle shall avoid creating traffic congestion byperiodically relinquishing the traffic way to allow the passage offollowing vehicles when a build up of traffic occurs.(i) Additional safety measures are as follows:(1) A yellow banner measuring a total length of7' x 18" high bearing the legend "OversizeLoad" in 10" black letters 1.5 inches wideshall be displayed in one or two piecestotaling the required length on the frontand rear bumpers of a permittedvehicle/vehicle combination with a width of10' or greater. A towing unitmobile/modular home combination shalldisplay banners of the size specified bearingthe legend "Oversize -----ft. Load"identifying the nominal width of the unit inTEMPORARY RULES16:15 NORTH CAROLINA REGISTER February 1, 20021741transport. Escort vehicles shall displaybanners as previously specified with theexception of length to extend the entirewidth of the bumpers;(2) Red flagsmeasuring 18" square shall be displayed on allsides at the widest point of load for all loads inexcess of 8' 6" wide but the flags shall be somounted as to not increase the overall width ofthe load;(3) All permitted vehicles/vehicle combinationsshall be equipped with tires of the sizespecified and the required number of axlesequipped with operable brakes in goodworking condition as provided in NorthCarolina Statutes and Motor Carrier andHousing and Urban Development (HUD)regulations.(4) Rear view mirrors and other safety devices ontowing units attached for movement ofoverwidth loads shall be removed or retractedto conform with legal width when unit is nottowing/hauling such vehicle or load;(5) Flashing amber lights shall be used asdetermined by the issuing permit office.(j) The object to be transported shall not be loaded or parked,day or night, on the highway right of way without specificpermission from the office issuing the permit after confirmationof an emergency condition.(k) No move shall be made when weather conditions rendervisibility less than 500 feet for a person or vehicle. Moves shallnot be made when highway is covered with snow or ice or at anytime travel conditions are considered unsafe by the Division ofHighways, State Highway Patrol or other Law EnforcementOfficers having jurisdiction. Movement of a mobile/modularunit exceeding a width of 10' shall be prohibited when windvelocities exceed 25 miles per hour in gusts.(l) All obstructions, including traffic signals, signs and utilitylines shall be removed immediately prior to and replacedimmediately after the move at the expense of the mover,provided arrangements for and approval from the owner isobtained. In no event are trees, shrubs, or official signs to becut, trimmed or removed without personal approval from theDivision of Highways District Engineer having jurisdictionover the area involved. In determining whether to grantapproval, the district engineer shall consider the species, age andappearance of the tree or shrub in question and its contribution tothe aesthetics of the immediate area.(m) The Department of Transportation may require escortvehicles to accompany oversize or overweight loads. Theweight, width of load, width of pavement, height, length ofcombination, length of overhang, maximum speed of vehicle,geographical route of travel, weather conditions and restrictedtime of travel shall be considered to determine escortrequirements.History Note: Authority G.S. 20-119; 136-18(5); Board ofTransportation Minutes for February 16, 1977 andNovember 10, 1978;Eff. July 1, 1978;Amended Eff. October 1, 1994; December 29, 1993; October 1,1991; October 1, 1990;